Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Which Reminds Me

Years ago while I was working as a reporter/photographer/etc. at the Haines City Herald the newspaper was redesigned in such a way that at the bottom of the front page, in one corner, there was a place to put a little quote from the archives of the newspaper which, surprisingly for such a small town, had a very long history going back to the beginning of the 20th century. I was the person designated to rummage through the archives and find the necessary quote to fill the box. I remember one reference to persons seeing an airplane flying overhead for the first time and running down the street and chasing it to get a better look. Other times, I think more than once, I use quotes referring to William Jennings Bryan, an easily recognizable name of a historical figure who sometimes wintered in Central Florida. These were announcements of his imminent arrival in town for a political speech of some sort some time in the 1910s. I think that was before the Scopes trial put a bitter end to his career. However, regardless of whatever you think about evolutionism vs. creationism, it is still of historical interest for the denizens of Haines City to know that such an eminent historical figure was in their own hometown at some time in the past. I am sure that if Clyde Barrows had stopped in town and left behind some evidence his name also might have appeared in the box. So?